Atholl Country Life Museum Charity Accounts

COMPANY REGISTRATION NUMBER: SC273291

CHARITY REGISTRATION NUMBER: SC035882

Atholl Country Life Museum

Company Limited by Guarantee

Unaudited Financial Statements

For the year ended

31 October 2025

Atholl Country Life Museum

Company Limited by Guarantee

Financial Statements

Year ended 31 October 2025

	Page

Trustees' annual report (incorporating the director's report)	1

Independent examiner's report to the trustees	4

Statement of financial activities (including income and expenditure account)	6

Statement of financial position	7

Notes to the financial statements	8

Atholl Country Life Museum

Company Limited by Guarantee

Trustees' Annual Report (Incorporating the Director's Report)

Year ended 31 October 2025

The trustees, who are also the directors for the purposes of company law, present their report and the unaudited financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 October 2025 .

Reference and administrative details

Registered charity name	Atholl Country Life Museum

Charity registration number	SC035882

Company registration number	SC273291

Principal office and registered	4 Tummel Bridge
office	Pitlochry
	Perthshire
	PH16 5SB

The trustees

	Kirsty Bruce (Chairwoman)
	Robert Cameron
	Susan Gledhill
	Elizabeth Morrison
	Gentle Scrimgeour

Michael Williamson (ex officio member)

Company secretary	Ms Margaret Viner

Independent examiner	John McKeith C A
	26/30 Bonnethill Road
	Pitlochry
	PH16 5BS

Structure, governance and management

The organisation is a charitable company limited by guarantee and not having a share capital. It was incorporated on 13th September 2004 and registered as a charity also on that date.

The company was established under the Memorandum and Articles of Association, which establishes its objects, power and governance. In the event of the company being wound up the Trustees are required to contribute an amount not exceeding £1.

The importance of having a wide range of skills and business knowledge among Trustees, as well as background knowledge of and an interest in Scottish and Atholl social history is desirable and considered of great importance to the balanced functioning of the museum. Willing help from volunteers working a few hours per week during the closed season is greatly appreciated, and of course the all-important staffing of the facility throughout the season.

John Cameron, museum founder and curator, died in January of 2019. No successor curator has been appointed.

The museum works where possible with other museums and attends relevant collaborative events as human resources allow.

Objectives and activities

The objectives of the charity are to advance and promote the education of the general public in the heritage, history and culture of Blair Atholl, by associating with voluntary organisations, local authorities and other bodies, together with the local inhabitants of Atholl in a common effort to maintain and develop a museum to be called Atholl Country Life Museum .

Achievements and performance

2024 was a poor year for the Museum. Numbers were significantly lower than 2024. Adults down from 602 to 361, seniors down from 714 to 105 and children by half.

We also had problems recruiting volunteers but managed to stay open for 6 days a week for the majority of the year, albeit with reduced hours.

We had major problems with the electricity and British Gas. Their failure to fit a smart meter resulted in the Museum having no heating from September and consequently we had to close weeks earlier than normal. This problem is still unresolved.

In terms of fundraising, we held a quiz and raffled a Christmas hamper which brought in approx £700. We continue to sell 2nd hand books and this again was popular.

Our social media profile continues with Facebook and Instagram.

Despite last year's challenges, the trustees have remained a solid and effective group. We did lose a trustee due to retirement but chose not to replace her.

Our aims are the same - to get some heating and to be a proactive, approachable and enthusiastic group who, along with our committed volunteers, work hard to keep the Museum open. We all strive for more community involvement and partnership working in 2026.

Financial review

Total income for the year fell to £5,729 (2024: £7,985) due to lower admissions and shop sales. However, the effect of lower visitor numbers was partly compensated by a doubling of donations income.

Total expenditure also fell to become £5,751 (2024: £6,944). There was little variation within most expenses categories. Repairs and maintenance and light and heat were the two categories which saw the greater variation from last year's figures, both being reduced. The light and heat expense was affected by the metering problems, which led to an early closure to the season.

There was a small loss of £23 for the year, which reduced total funds to £25,426 at the year end (2024: £25,449).

Apart from the Heritage Grant of £50, which represents the depreciated value of fixed assets purchased with the original grant, the charity's funds remain unrestricted.

Small company provisions

This report has been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to companies entitled to the small companies exemption.

The trustees' annual report was approved on 30 July 2026 and signed on behalf of the board of trustees by:

Elizabeth Morrison

Trustee

Atholl Country Life Museum

Company Limited by Guarantee

Independent Examiner's Report to the Trustees of Atholl Country Life Museum

Year ended 31 October 2025

I report to the trustees on my examination of the financial statements of Atholl Country Life Museum ('the charity') for the year ended 31 October 2025.

Responsibilities and basis of report

As the trustees of the company (and also its directors for the purposes of company law) you are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements in accordance with the requirements of the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005 (‘the 2005 Act’), the Charities Accounts (Scotland) Regulations 2006 (as amended) and the Companies Act 2006 (‘the 2006 Act’). You are satisfied that the accounts of the company are not required by charity or company law to be audited and have chosen instead to have an independent examination.

Having satisfied myself that the accounts of the company are not required to be audited under Part 16 of the 2006 Act and are eligible for independent examination, I report in respect of my examination of the charity’s accounts carried out under section 44(1)(c) of the 2005 Act. In carrying out my examination I have followed the requirements of Regulation 11 of the Charities Accounts (Scotland) Regulations 2006 (as amended). Independent examiner's statement

Since the charity is required by company law to prepare its accounts on an accruals basis and is registered as a charity in Scotland your examiner must be a member of a body listed in Regulation 11(2) of the Charities Accounts (Scotland) Regulations 2006 (as amended). I can confirm that I am qualified to undertake the examination because I am a registered member of ICAS which is one of the listed bodies.

I have completed my examination. I confirm that no matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe:

1. accounting records were not kept in respect of the charity as required by section 386 of the 2006 Act, section 44(1)(a) of the 2005 Act and Regulation 4 of the 2006 Accounts Regulations; or

2. the financial statements do not accord with those records or with the accounting requirements of Regulation 8 of the Charities Accounts (Scotland) Regulations 2006; or

3. the financial statements do not comply with the accounting requirements of section 396 of the 2006 Act other than any requirement that the accounts give a ‘true and fair' view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination; or

4. the financial statements have not been prepared in accordance with the methods and principles of the Statement of Recommended Practice for accounting and reporting by charities applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102).

I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.

John McKeith C A Independent Examiner

26/30 Bonnethill Road Pitlochry PH16 5BS

30 July 2026

Atholl Country Life Museum

Company Limited by Guarantee

Statement of Financial Activities

(including income and expenditure account)

Year ended 31 October 2025

	2025			2024
	Unrestricted funds	Restricted funds	Total funds	Total funds
Note	£	£	£	£

Income and endowments

Donations and legacies	5	3,272	–	3,272	1,644
Charitable activities	6	2,457	–	2,457	6,341
		-------	----	-------	-------
Total income		5,729	–	5,729	7,985
		-------	----	-------	-------

Expenditure

Expenditure on raising funds:

	Costs of other trading activities	7	75	–	75	125
Expenditure on charitable activities		8,9	5,657	20	5,676	6,819
			-------	----	-------	-------
Total expenditure			5,732	20	5,751	6,944
			-------	----	-------	-------

	-------	----	-------	-------
Net (expenditure)/income and net movement in funds	( 3)	( 20)	( 22)	1,041
	-------	----	-------	-------

Reconciliation of funds

Total funds brought forward	25,379	70	25,449	24,410
	--------	----	--------	--------
Total funds carried forward	25,376	50	25,426	25,449
	--------	----	--------	--------

The statement of financial activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the year.

All income and expenditure derive from continuing activities.

Atholl Country Life Museum

Company Limited by Guarantee

Statement of Financial Position

31 October 2025

	2025		2024
Note	£	£	£

Fixed assets

Tangible fixed assets	14		6,287	6,649

Current assets

Stocks	15	1,059	1,163
Cash at bank and in hand		18,645	18,168
		--------	--------
		19,704	19,331

Creditors: amounts falling due within one year	16	564		529
		--------		--------
Net current assets			19,140	18,802
			--------	--------
Total assets less current liabilities			25,427	25,451
			--------	--------
Net assets			25,427	25,451
			--------	--------

Funds of the charity

Restricted funds		50	70
Unrestricted funds		25,376	25,379
		--------	--------
Total charity funds	17	25,426	25,449
		--------	--------

For the year ending 31 October 2025 the charity was entitled to exemption from audit under section 477 of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies.

Directors' responsibilities:

- The members have not required the company to obtain an audit of its financial statements for the year in question in accordance with section 476 ;

- The directors acknowledge their responsibilities for complying with the requirements of the Act with respect to accounting records and the preparation of financial statements .

These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to companies subject to the small companies' regime.

These financial statements were approved by the board of trustees and authorised for issue on 30 July 2026 , and are signed on behalf of the board by:

Elizabeth Morrison

Trustee

Atholl Country Life Museum

Company Limited by Guarantee

Notes to the Financial Statements

Year ended 31 October 2025

1. General information

The charity is a public benefit entity and a private company limited by guarantee, registered in Scotland and a registered charity in Scotland. The address of the registered office is 4 Tummel Bridge, Pitlochry, Perthshire, PH16 5SB.

2. Statement of compliance

These financial statements have been prepared in compliance with FRS 102, 'The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and the Republic of Ireland', the Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (Charities SORP (FRS 102)) and the Companies Act 2006.

3. Accounting policies

Cash and cash equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents consist of cash in hand and deposits held at call with banks.

Basis of preparation

The financial statements have been prepared on the historical cost basis. The financial statements are prepared in sterling, which is the functional currency of the entity.

Going concern

There are no material concerns about the charity's ability to continue .

Judgements and key sources of estimation uncertainty

The preparation of the financial statements requires management to make judgements, estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported. These estimates and judgements are continually reviewed and are based on experience and other factors, including expectations of future events that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances. The trustees believe the charity's accounts are relatively straight forward and as a result there were no judgements, estimates or assumptions that on their own had a significant effect on the financial statements of the current or comparative years.

Fund accounting

Unrestricted funds are available for use at the discretion of the trustees in furtherance of the general objectives of the museum. Restricted funds are monies that have been received by the museum for a specific purpose.

Incoming resources

All income is included in the statement of financial activities when entitlement has passed to the charity, it is probable that the economic benefits associated with the transaction will flow to the charity and the amount can be reliably measured. The following specific policies are applied to particular categories of income: - income from donations or grants is recognised when there is evidence of entitlement to the gift, receipt is probable and its amount can be measured reliably. - income from donated goods is measured at the fair value of the goods unless this is impracticable to measure reliably, in which case the value is derived from the cost to the donor or the estimated resale value. Donated facilities and services are recognised in the accounts when received if the value can be reliably measured. No amounts are included for the contribution of general volunteers. - income from admissions is recognised when earned. - all other income is recognised when payment is received.

Resources expended

Expenditure is recognised on an accruals basis as a liability is incurred. Expenditure is classified under headings of the statement of financial activities to which it relates:

- expenditure on raising funds includes the costs of all fundraising activities, events, non-charitable trading activities, and the sale of donated goods.

- expenditure on charitable activities includes all costs incurred by a charity in undertaking activities that further its charitable aims for the benefit of its beneficiaries, including those support costs and costs relating to the governance of the charity apportioned to charitable activities.

- other expenditure includes all expenditure that is neither related to raising funds for the charity nor part of its expenditure on charitable activities.

Tangible assets

All fixed assets are initially recorded at cost.

Depreciation

Depreciation is calculated so as to write off the cost or valuation of an asset, less its residual value, over the useful economic life of that asset as follows:

	Museum equipment	-	25% reducing balance

Impairment of fixed assets

A review for indicators of impairment is carried out at each reporting date, with the recoverable amount being estimated where such indicators exist. Where the carrying value exceeds the recoverable amount, the asset is impaired accordingly. Prior impairments are also reviewed for possible reversal at each reporting date.

Stocks

Stocks are measured at the lower of cost and estimated selling price less costs to complete and sell.

Financial instruments

A financial asset or a financial liability is recognised only when the entity becomes a party to the contractual provisions of the instrument. Basic financial instruments are initially recognised at the amount receivable or payable including any related transaction costs, unless the arrangement constitutes a financing transaction, where it is recognised at the present value of the future payments discounted at a market rate of interest for a similar debt instrument. Current assets and current liabilities are subsequently measured at the cash or other consideration expected to be paid or received and not discounted. Debt instruments are subsequently measured at amortised cost. Financial assets that are measured at cost or amortised cost are reviewed for objective evidence of impairment at the end of each reporting date. If there is objective evidence of impairment, an impairment loss is recognised under the appropriate heading in the statement of financial activities in which the initial gain was recognised. Any reversals of impairment are recognised immediately, to the extent that the reversal does not result in a carrying amount of the financial asset that exceeds what the carrying amount would have been had the impairment not previously been recognised.

4. Limited by guarantee

The trustees are liable to contribute a maximum of £1 each in the event of a winding up of the company.

5. Donations and legacies

Unrestricted Funds	Total Funds 2025	Unrestricted Funds	Total Funds 2024
£	£	£	£

Donations

Donations and gifts	3,272	3,272	1,644	1,644
	-------	-------	-------	-------

Total expenses of £230 were reimbursed to 2 trustees during the period for internet charges and stationery (2024: £272 reimbursed to 2 trustees for internet charges and stationery).

6. Charitable activities

	Unrestricted Funds	Total Funds 2025	Unrestricted Funds	Total Funds 2024
	£	£	£	£
Admissions	2,225	2,225	5,866	5,866
Sales	232	232	475	475
	-------	-------	-------	-------
	2,457	2,457	6,341	6,341
	-------	-------	-------	-------

7. Costs of other trading activities

	Unrestricted Funds	Total Funds 2025	Unrestricted Funds	Total Funds 2024
	£	£	£	£
Fundraising events	75	75	125	125
	----	----	----	----

8. Expenditure on charitable activities by fund type

	Unrestricted Funds	Restricted Funds	Total Funds 2025
	£	£	£
Management of Museum	4,873	20	4,892
Support costs	784	–	784
	-------	----	-------
	5,657	20	5,676
	-------	----	-------

	Unrestricted Funds	Restricted Funds	Total Funds 2024
	£	£	£
Management of Museum	6,078	26	6,103
Support costs	717	–	716
	-------	----	-------
	6,795	26	6,819
	-------	----	-------

9. Expenditure on charitable activities by activity type

	Activities undertaken directly	Support costs	Total funds 2025	Total fund 2024
	£	£	£	£
Management of Museum	4,892	–	4,892	6,103
Governance costs	–	784	784	716
	-------	----	-------	-------
	4,892	784	5,676	6,819
	-------	----	-------	-------

10. Net (expenditure)/income

Net (expenditure)/income is stated after charging/(crediting):

	2025	2024
	£	£
Depreciation of tangible fixed assets	362	483
	----	----

11. Independent examination fees

	2025	2024
	£	£

Fees payable to the independent examiner for:

Independent examination of the financial statements	480	456
	----	----

12. Staff costs

The average head count of employees during the year was Nil (2024: Nil).

No employee received employee benefits of more than £60,000 during the year (2024: Nil).

13. Trustee remuneration and expenses

No remuneration or other benefits from employment with the charity or a related entity were received by the trustees (2024: Nil).

Total expenses of £231 were reimbursed during the period to 2 trustees for internet charges and stationery (2024: expenses of £272 were reimbursed to 2 trustees during the period for internet charges and stationery).

14. Tangible fixed assets

	Equipment	Museum exhibits	Total
	£	£	£
Cost
At 1 November 2024 and 31 October 2025	6,528	5,202	11,730
	-------	-------	--------
Depreciation
At 1 November 2024	5,081	–	5,081
Charge for the year	362	–	362
	-------	-------	--------
At 31 October 2025	5,443	–	5,443
	-------	-------	--------
Carrying amount
At 31 October 2025	1,085	5,202	6,287
	-------	-------	--------
At 31 October 2024	1,447	5,202	6,649
	-------	-------	--------

15. Stocks

Goods for resale

16. Creditors: amounts falling due within one year

	2025	2024
	£	£
Accruals and deferred income	564	529
	----	----

17. Analysis of charitable funds

Unrestricted funds

	At 1 November 2024	Income	Expenditure	At 31 October 2025
	£	£	£	£
General funds	25,379	5,729	(5,732)	25,376
	--------	-------	-------	--------

	At 1 November 2023	Income	Expenditure	At 31 October 2024
	£	£	£	£
General funds	24,314	7,985	(6,920)	25,379
	--------	-------	-------	--------

Restricted funds

	At 1 November 2024	Income	Expenditure	At 31 October 2025
	£	£	£	£
Heritage Grant	70	–	(20)	50
	----	----	----	----

	At 1 November 2023	Income	Expenditure	At 31 October 2024
	£	£	£	£
Heritage Grant	96	–	(26)	70
	----	----	----	----

The Heritage Grant has been used to fund the cost of a computer, projector and associated equipment. Depreciation on this equipment will be charged to the fund as it arises.

18. Analysis of net assets between funds

	Unrestricted Funds	Restricted Funds	Total Funds 2025
	£	£	£
Tangible fixed assets	6,237	50	6,287
Current assets	19,703	–	19,703
Creditors less than 1 year	(564)	–	(564)
	--------	----	--------
Net assets	25,376	50	25,426
	--------	----	--------

	Unrestricted Funds	Restricted Funds	Total Funds 2024
	£	£	£
Tangible fixed assets	6,579	70	6,649
Current assets	19,329	–	19,329
Creditors less than 1 year	(529)	–	(529)
	--------	----	--------
Net assets	25,379	70	25,449
	--------	----	--------

19. Related parties

No transactions with related parties were undertaken during the year such as are required to be disclosed under the Financial Reporting Standard 102 (2024: Nil).